Making lists isn’t everyone’s forte but they are undeniably helpful in getting things done, especially when it comes to home maintenance.
So we made you a Home Maintenance Checklist for the month of December! Here are a few maintenance items you can check off your list this month so you can have the peace of mind that everything in your house is getting done whenever it needs to.
December Home Maintenance Checklist
Clean Circuit Breaker
It’s common to use more energy in the colder months, especially December, because many people use additional space heaters and humidifiers in the rooms of their homes.
While this can make the home environment more comfortable, it can also trip circuit breakers because there are too many electrical appliances drawing energy from one breaker.
Be sure your circuit breakers are labeled correctly. This will assist in the event of a tripped breaker, or worse, an electrical emergency.
If you do trip a circuit breaker, first unplug all of the devices and then reset the breaker. While you’re at it, you can also dust off the breaker box to make sure everything is nice and clean.
Test Electrical Outlets
Now is a great time to test the electrical outlets throughout your home. With the hanging of lights and other lit decorations, testing outlets is actually a pretty easy and convenient.
You can also test the GFCI outlets around your home by pushing the “test” button. This will make the “reset” button pop out, and when you press that in again it will restart the outlet–then you can test it. If you find any outlets that aren’t working, then you can call an electrician to fix it.
Run Water in Unused Areas of Home
With the holiday season and all of the visitors that it brings, it’s a good idea to make sure the water is running well in less-used areas of your home.
Make sure to run the water and flush the toilets in bathrooms that aren’t often used. This is a good practice whether you have guests coming or not.
Replace Batteries in Smoke Detectors
Testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is something that should be done monthly. Go ahead and press the test buttons to make sure the alarms are still working.
The batteries should be changed out every year as well.
Inspect Fire Extinguishers
Having an in-home fire extinguisher is very important. And making sure you maintain it is just as important.
Once a year, you should inspect your fire extinguisher for corrosion, leaks, a clogged nozzle, or a broken locking pin. If any of these things are not working optimally, then you need to replace the fire extinguisher.
A fire extinguisher should be replaced every 5 years.